16 
Fishery Bulletin 1 12(1) 
250 
□ Perinatal ail (n= 179) 
□ Nonperinatal HI-CBD (n=451) 
□ Nonperinatal Hl-other (n= 26) 
a Nonperinatal HI-FI (n=168) 
■ Nonperinatal Hl-no (n= 121) 
'P' <6 N <& 
O 
Location 
Figure 7 
Spatial distribution of perinatal (<125 cm) and nonperinatal (>125 cm) 
coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stranding events by coastal 
segments (Al-D) and inshore in North Carolina during 1997-2008. Nonperi- 
natal strandings are divided into human interaction (HI) categories: HI-CBD 
(could not be determined), Hl-other (e.g., mutilation, vessel strike), HI-FI 
(fishery interaction), and Hl-no (no evidence of HI). 
found with fresh entanglement lesions that indicated 
that the entanglement occurred nearby. In addition, 
mutilation in the form of missing appendages, slit ab- 
domens (or both) was noted on harbor porpoises that 
were HI-FI and on carcasses that were Hl-other but 
CBD for FI. These types of mutilations are thought to 
be a result of fishermen’s attempts to remove bycaught 
animals from gear, or to increase the possibility that 
the carcass would sink and not be recovered (or both) 
(Kuiken et al., 1994; Read and Murray, 2000). Most 
bycatch has been documented from New Jersey and 
north (Orphanides, 2009). However, data for the latest 
bycatch estimate were collected in February and March 
(Orphanides 5 ), whereas more harbor porpoise strand- 
ings in NC were recovered in April than in February 
and many of those strandings were positive for FI. 
Observed trips and associated data used to calculate 
bycatch estimates of harbor porpoises off NC should 
therefore be expanded to April to ensure representa- 
tive coverage of fisheries during months when harbor 
porpoises are present. 
Pelagic odontocetes The distribution of pelagic odonto- 
cete strandings is likely influenced by the narrow shelf 
and proximity of the Gulf Stream to the coast (Cione et 
5 Orphanides, C. D. 2011. Estimates of cetacean and pin- 
niped bycatch in the 2009 northeast sink gillnet and mid- 
Atlantic gillnet fisheries. U.S. Dep. Commer. Northeast 
Fish. Sci. Cent. Ref. Doc. 11-08, 28 p. [Available from 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods 
Hole, MA 02543-1026 or http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/noaa_docu- 
ments/NMFS/NEFSC/NEFSC_reference_documnet/NEFSC_ 
RD_ll_08.pdf , accessed January 2013.] 
al., 1993) because habitat for many 
of these species is near the shelf 
break and at Gulf Stream fronts 
(Kenney and Winn, 1986; Hamaza- 
ki, 2002). Even southern species 
occurred north of Cape Hatteras; 
those species with oceanic distribu- 
tions likely are associated with the 
Gulf Stream, as it approaches Cape 
Hatteras and remains close to shore 
north of the Cape before it mean- 
ders east, or with warm-water ed- 
dies (Gray and Cerame-Vivas, 1963) 
that can move shoreward. 
Although pelagic odontocetes are 
a diverse group, across species they 
were often found alive or with evi- 
dence of having stranded alive, such 
as sand in the blowhole and abra- 
sions or bruising on the ventrum 
and ventral flukes. Most live ceta- 
ceans died on their own before or 
shortly after stranding responders 
arrived. Animals recovered freshly 
dead (Geraci and Lounsbury, 2005) 
likely traveled nearshore and died 
shortly before or after stranding, but before the animal 
was discovered (Mead 3 ). Individuals that died in their 
normal habitat far from shore would be less likely to 
be pushed by wind and currents and be deposited on 
the beach (Peltier et al., 2012). In some cases, the pub- 
lic pushed live animals back into the water — an action 
rarely chosen by stranding responders. The fates of 
animals pushed back are unknown except for a few in- 
stances where presumably the same animal restranded 
nearby. Decisions on the best course of action for other 
live strandings were made after responders consulted 
with veterinarians and the regional stranding coor- 
dinator. Euthanasia was chosen as the most humane 
treatment for most cetaceans (see Moore et al., 2007), 
in contrast to rehabilitation being a more suitable op- 
tion for most seals. 
Non -Kogia pelagic odontocetes generally stranded 
from February to May north of the zoogeographical 
and oceanographic boundary at Cape Hatteras. This 
trend was driven by species with the most strand- 
ing events: common dolphins and striped dolphins. 
Common dolphins and striped dolphins are gener- 
ally northern species and occur most commonly off 
NC in winter (CeTAP 6 ); this spatiotemporal distri- 
bution is similar to that found for harbor seals and 
harbor porpoises. Southern pelagic delphinids were 
less common, and despite their primarily southern 
distribution, generally showed the same spatiotem- 
6 CeTAP (Cetacean and Turtle Assessment Program). 1982. 
A characterization of marine mammals and turtles in the 
mid- and north Atlantic areas of the U.S. outer continental 
shelf. Final Report, Contract AA51-C78-48, 538 p. Bureau 
of Land Management, Washington, D.C. 
